In November, 2010, my life’s journey took a turn that I was not expecting, as have many other events that I had no idea would take place. I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. (I know that many of my fellow employees and members of their families have been taken over by the many different types of cancer. Cancer seems to be running rampant in our society at this time. As I write this I know that they can identify with me, and I with them.) The surgery took 90% of the pancreas, and all of the spleen. I have been on ‘chemo’ since February, 2011. In this, I have been blessed in that, I have not experienced many of the side effects that accompany the ‘chemo’ treatments, although I do have fatigue, dizziness, and some memory loss. I take insulin to replace the insulin that the pancreas produces, and enzymes that the pancreas also produces to aid in the digestive process.

All of us who face life threatening diseases or serious injuries, go through many different thought processes. I do not mean to imply in any way that I am a person of great spiritual strength , but I do have great trust and faith in my lord Jesus Christ. When the surgeon told me of the cancer and the upcoming surgery I was apprehensive, to say the least, about what was going to take place. But, there was also a sense of peace. I knew that this was going to be a ‘win, win’ event. In that if I survived , God still had plans for me to continue serving Him. If I didn't survive, I know that I would be with my Lord in heaven.

The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 1:24-25 about our life. “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the fields; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.” (NIV)  

In His word we also see in 2 Corinthians 5:1,5-7, this promise: “Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands...Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight” (NIV).

I have also taken great comfort in the promises we have in Romans 8:28-39:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

I want to thank you from the depths of my heart and all my being, for the prayers, and kind thoughts, and support you showered me with. Please continue to lift me up in your prayers.